Trick or Treat

Michael was on call and for some reason or another I decided not to go to Charleston.  I had this pattern for a "Trick or Treat" bag that I wanted to make for my niece, Mia,  for Halloween.  Hard to believe this wasn't as hard as it looked, just a little tedious switching the yarn back and fourth, but when I was done it just wasn't big enough to for a "Trick or Treat" bag.

So I improvised.  Instead of freaking out for the time and effort I put into this guy, I made up my own pattern for closing up the top, stuffed it and added a green stem.  Sorry Mia!  Maybe next year you will get your bag!  This is what happens when I spend a Friday night alone! 

Eggplant Parmesan

My all time favorite thing my Grandma made was Eggplant Parmesan, and actually it's not as complicated as you would think to make.  A bit messy and time consuming, but anyone can do it.  Thankfully I had a great teacher ; )

First, make your basic sauce however you like it.  I make mine with garlic, onion, Hunt's Tomato Sauce, fresh or dried basil and parsley, salt and pepper.  While that is simmering, fry your eggplant.  You can slice them either in strips or circles.  I like the way circles look better so that is what I use, but the strips take less time.  Dip the eggplant first in flour, then your egg mixture (with a little Parmesan cheese, milk, salt and pepper) and last your seasoned bread crumbs.  Then place into a skillet with hot extra virgin olive oil, flip when golden on the bottom.  Once done on both side place on small stack of paper towels to drain some of the grease.

Now comes the fun part, you layer it.  First a couple ladle full of your sauce, then your fried eggplant, and finally mozzarella cheese (fresh or shredded).  My grandma also did a layer of the egg mixture over the cheese to hold it together, but it's not absolutely necessary.  Be sure to sprinkle some Parmesan cheese in the layers.  Bake for about 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Let stand at least 30 mins and enjoy!

Do I have something on my face?

Most people are extremely surprised when I tell them my birds love pasta.  Actually, they are usually shocked that I have birds as pets and that they eat any kind of "human food" at all.  Crockett even asks for it, "Mmm....is that good?  Give me that!"  It's a bit rude, but in order to have a well balance diet birds do need more than just seeds.

My birds are not picky eaters, but the both tend to favor different foods.  Crockett absolutely loves asparagus and brussel sprouts and Tuesday favorites are apples, strawberries and broccoli.  They do have one absolute favorite food in common and that is pasta!   This past Friday I shared my dinner with them.  It made for some very happy, yet messy birds  : )
 

It's just a light switch!

There is something in a spare bedroom in my house that drives me absolutely insane.  The light switch plate is crooked.  Michael tried to fix it when he replaced the switch with no luck and now when I am in that room it is the first thing that my eyes go toward.  It has been that way since I first moved into the house, but it just hit me the other day is the reason that it bothers me so much. 

I grew up with two parents whom were extreme perfectionists, the most severe case being my father, who was a photographer.  We had tons of his work hung around the house and every piece was perfectly centered and absolutely straight.  The only tools I really remember my dad messing with were a hammer, a measuring tape and his level.  He would spend hours making sure that every photograph was hung perfectly.  I would stand by his side holding whatever he needed, sometimes even the ladder in which he only would have one foot on while the rest of his body swung around like a monkey.  I was a very nervous child and remember being terrified that he would fall, but as luck would have it he never did.

So the other day I found myself looking at that stupid light switch and getting so irritated when I started to laugh.  It was as if I could hear my dad finding the humor in that damn switch being crooked, and then I had my epiphany, it didn't matter, not even in the slightest.  I have a wonderful family and amazing friends, a roof over my head, even though sometimes I would like to burn my house to the ground, and my health.  Does everything have to be perfect.....no.  Life is so short.  I still wouldn't mind if it magically straightened out though ; )

Damn Squirrels!

Two years ago I purchased my first blackberry bush.  It takes two years for them to produce fruit so I thought I would be smart and plant a second bush the following year, then eventually I would get a decent amount of blackberries.  It's a long time investment, so I was delighted in June when I notice my first couple of berries growing.  And right before I went on vacation in the end of June I noticed at least 10 berries which I guessed would be ready when I returned from my trip.  My big surprise was when I got home, not only were they ripe, but they had also already been "sampled."  The damn squirrels had taken a bite out of all but one!  Didn't even bother to eat the whole thing!  Grrrr!  So two years of waiting, this was my only survivor.  Not not even going to go into what they did to my tomatoes! 

"A" for Asher!

Our friends Brad and Kelli are expecting a baby boy this November.  Kelli is doing the baby's room in animals and I really didn't want to do another monkey since I made one not too long ago for Maddox.  Had to be special  : )  So I found this "baby gorilla" pattern and I will be the first to say that mine does not look like the picture or even a gorilla for that matter, but I guess it's the thought that counts.  I adjusted the pattern some and omitted the pole part.

The bib on the other hand was pretty easy and there are several different free patterns for baby bibs online.  For the "A" I made a chain of single crochets and sewed it on to the front of the bib.  The "button" is a small circle that I securely attached for the closure.   

Can't wait to meet you Asher!  Congrats to Brad, Kelli and Kyler!

Spoiled Pups!

Gracie's best friend Chloe's Momma made some Elvis Pupsley's Muffins and was gracious enough to share some with Grace-Face.  Needless to say Gracie went absolutely crazy over these homemade goodies!  Here she is licking her chops.  Thanks for sharing Chloe!